Why BJP ‘loves’ Ambedkar but hates Periyar?

https://www.newsclick.in/why-bjp-loves-ambedkar-hates-periyar

To attack Periyar can be seen as a BJP strategy.

Anurag Bharadwaj

24 Dec 2019

Last month, in a televised interview, yoga guru-turned-businessman and staunch Bharatiya Janata Party supporter Swami Ramdev termed anti-caste activists “intellectual terrorists”. Since then, social media has been filled with criticism. People have been citing icons of the anti-caste movement such as Periyar EV Ramasamy and BR Ambedkar to slam the votaries of Hindutva. 

The comments of Ramdev are in synch with the incidents in which Periyar, and other icons, have been destroyed or dishonoured. In March 2018, Periyar’s statue was vandalised by BJP supporters in Vellore in Tamil Nadu. The vandalism came right after BJP leader and rabble rouser H Raja’s Facebook post declared Periyar the next target of Hindutva mobs after Vladimir Lenin’s statue in Tripura was bulldozed by a mob wearing saffron caps. In September, a lawyer defaced Periyar’s statue at Mount Road in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Not only this, anybody who writes about Periyar is opposed by BJP and its allies. Last year, Ahmedabad University announced the appointment of noted historian Ramchandra Guha as the director of the Gandhi Winter School at its faculty of Arts and Sciences. Immediately, BJP’s student wing ABVP sprung into action and opposed his appointment. Guha’s book, Makers of Modern India, according to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s student offshoot, ABVP, “divides” the country. The book contains a chapter on Periyar and how his social reform ideas helped the country re-imagine its future. Eventually, Guha did not join the university.

Why is Periyar, the Socrates of Asia, opposed by BJP? Is it surprising that one who identified Brahmanism as the root cause of social evils in society is hardly known amongst the Dalits in the North? These are the questions that arise today, on the 46th death anniversary of Periyar on 24 December 2019. 

Largely, North Indian Dalit politics has revolved around BR Ambedkar and Kanshiram. Statues or other images of Jyotirao Phule may still be found in the northern states, but Periyar remains, basically, anonymous. What the BJP is achieving by opposing his ideology is putting Periyar’s name down in the scheme of things. 

Periyar was among the leading social reformers of the 20th century, a declared atheist who proclaimed that there is no god. Born into a religious Hindu family, Periyar became a staunch opponent of religion from an early age, and attacked the evils of Brahmanism and Hinduism. He discarded idol worship, did not believe in Vedanta or the Hindu philosophy. He not only burnt religious texts but also considered Ravana as his hero. “He who created god was a fool, he who spreads his name is a scoundrel, and he who worships him is a barbarian,” he said.

Periyar inspired people of non-elite castes by starting the self-respect movement aimed at imparting equal human rights to all citizens. In his speeches, he emphasised upon women’s right to use contraception, divorce and remarry, at a time when Indian society was aligned against the idea of birth control or divorce. 

Periyar wrote in critical accounts on the Ramayana and other Hindu texts that they misinform people about the superiority of Brahmanism and promote the caste system. He targeted Brahmin priests who, according to him, were corrupt, devious and prone to excessive sexual tendencies.

Influenced by the principles of Gandhi, Periyar joined the Congress. But left after six years as he found that Congress was dominated by elite-caste Hindus who controlled most of the party’s key positions. The trigger for his leaving the party was also the refusal to entertain the notion of reservations in government jobs and education. During those days, in Congress-run hostels, Dalits and elite-caste Hindus had separate kitchens, which he opposed. His plans to raise the representation of Dalits in the Congress found little coinage. Incidentally, around the same time that Periyar left the party, the Vaikom issue exploded on the scene.

At a Shiva temple in Vaikom, (now in Kerala state), Dalits were prevented from offering prayers. Even the public roads leading to the temple, which is located close to present-day Kottayam, were closed to the Dalits. An 1865 notification by the government ended this obstruction, and reaffirmed it in 1884. The High Court ruled that the earlier caste-based restrictions were to continue. Efforts had been made by the non-elite caste members to break this restriction since the early nineteenth century. Around a quarter-century later, the Congress offered this movement its support, demanding that the restrictions be withdrawn.

Periyar became pivotal to this “Vaikom Satyagraha”, which started in 1924. The primary initial aim of the Satyagraha was to defy the restriction on entry into the area surrounding the temple. This period saw multiple confrontations between the Brahmins and the elite-caste leaders. After the front-line leaders such as TK Madhavan, a journalist and follower of Shri Narayana Guru, and KP Kesava Menon, a follower of Mahatma Gandhi, were arrested along with other leaders, Periyar took the movement in his hands and led it fiercely. Twice he was arrested. After the Vaikom Satyagraha, people gave him the title of Vaikom hero.

The Vaikom Satyagraha was probably one of the first instances where Periyar had a face-off with Congress. Mahatma Gandhi wanted the movement to remain a local affair. Joseph Lelyveld mentions in his book, Great Soul, that “Gandhi now took the view that struggle at Vaikom could not be considered an appropriate Congress project. The national movement, he said, should not come into the picture.”

Historians such as Guha believe that Gandhi did not sideline the movement, though pressure was building up and there were strong demands from Dalits and others to lead the movement. Though he went there, he could not gain any victory in seeking the entry of Dalits in the temple. It was only after a decade that Dalits gained access, when the Travancore Darbar announced that the temple is free for all to visit. Gandhi’s Satyagraha came under intense re-evaluation, while this movement made Periyar the messiah of Dalits.

Vaikom was not the first socio-political protest. The first came around 1912 with the setting up of the Madras Dravidian Association. Its aim was to cooperate with British in India to gain concessions for non-Brahmins. In 1916, the South Indian People’s Association (SIPA) was formed, which laid down the grievances of non-Brahmins and urged them to fight for their rights. In the same year, 1916, political stalwarts such as TM Nair and SRP Theagarayar formed the Justice Party—which eventually came under Periyar’s control, and he transformed it into the Dravida Kazhagam, a non-electoral social movement.

After he left the Congress, Periyar joined the Justice Party. Under him, the party started questioning and opposing Gandhi and other leaders of the Congress. Debi Chatterjee, a former professor of international relations at the Jadavpur University, in her book, Up Against Caste: Comparative Study of Ambedkar and Periyar, writes about the party under Periyar: It developed “a theory of rights, power and justice and a definition of community, which brought forth a new subject of history: rational, committed to reciprocity; equal, yet desirous of fraternity and above all free, bound only by the ideal of self-respect. That’s how the self-respect movement started.”

The goal of the movement was to create a caste-less society, free from the oppression of Brahmanical Hinduism. V Geetha and SV Rajadurai write in Towards a Non-Brahmin Millennium, “To Periyar, caste was simultaneously system and ideology; it comprised a complex set of social relations as well as those principles which informed, sustained and justified these relations. As a system, caste served the interests of Brahmins who were its favoured agents and existed chiefly to gratify and perpetrate their sense of their superiority.”

In the first Self-Respect Provincial Conference held in 1929, Periyar urged all the non-Brahmins to drop their caste suffixes or surnames. This led to the formation of a bloc comprising Shudras and Adi Dravidas. Still, he could not encompass the whole of India. On the other hand, Chatterjee writes, Ambedkar had to “carve out space for his political movement in the cervices left by the contradictions between various Indian political parties and groups on one side and the colonial on the other. For most of his time, he sought the maximization of this space and eventually succeeded in bringing the Dalit issue to the national political agenda.”

Though Ambedkar had differences with Gandhi, he was accepted by the Congress as an alternative to Periyar. He, later on, wrote the Constitution that grants Dalits social, economic and political rights. The wider appeal of Ambedkar, in this sense, explains the efforts that the BJP makes to prove its “love” for Ambedkar—it is a political compulsion for them to try and appropriate him.

For Periyar, on the other hand, the BJP faces no such compulsion. Hence it can afford to criticize, even condemn him. The RSS and BJP drive their politics purely based on caste supremacy. They seek to polarise and divide South India, but want to remain unaffected by this in the rest of the country. To attack Periyar can therefore be seen as their strategy. In a way, encouraging casteist violence and intimidation tactics by young men of elite-castes, who seek to maintain patriarchal hierarchies, supports what is already in the DNA of the RSS-BJP combine.

 

The author is a freelance journalist. The views are personal. 

Periyar, the hero of Vaikom

Pazha. Athiyaman

DECEMBER 24, 2019 00:15 IST

UPDATED: DECEMBER 24, 2019 11:03 IST

On his death anniversary, remembering a leader who gave new life to a sagging movement

To people in Kerala, Vaikom is associated with the name of the great Malayalam writer, Muhammad Basheer. The historically minded would associate it with an important satyagraha during the freedom struggle. In Tamil Nadu, it conjures up the bearded figure of Periyar E.V. Ramasamy (September 17, 1879-December 24, 1973). Vaikom is a metaphor for social justice — when scores of satyagrahis from the Tamil country joined hands with their brethren in a heroic struggle.

Vaikom was then in the princely state of Travancore. The four streets surrounding the temple of the presiding deity, Lord Mahadeva, were out of bounds for Ezhavas and other castes counted as ritually lower. In 1924, a satyagraha was launched against this injustice by T.K. Madhavan. It lasted for 18 months. In the initial stages, K.P. Kesava Menon and George Joseph led the struggle. Other prominent figures included Kurur Neelakanthan Namboodiri and Mannathu Padmanabhan. Towards the end, M.K. Gandhi reached Vaikom and gave it the finishing flourish.

Leadership at a critical juncture

The satyagraha began on March 30 with the active support of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee. But within a week all its leaders were behind bars. While George Joseph sought directions from Gandhi and C. Rajagopalachari, he wrote to Periyar pleading with him to lead the satyagraha. Periyar was in the midst of political work when Joseph’s missive reached him. As he was then the president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, Periyar handed over temporary charge to Rajaji before reaching Vaikom on April 13, 1924. From that date to the day of the victory celebrations, November 29, 1925, he was in the thick of the struggle giving it leadership at a critical juncture.

Periyar presided over the satyagraha in the face of untold violence and indignity inflicted by the orthodox and the repression of the police. To mobilise support, he visited villages in and around Vaikom and delivered public speeches in several towns. His campaign tour stretched to Thiruvananthapuram and even further to Nagercoil.

When the Kerala leaders asked for Gandhi’s permission to make the satyagraha an all-India affair, Gandhi refused saying that volunteers from Tamil Nadu would keep it alive. The Mahatma was not wrong. As the British Resident said in his report to the government of Madras: “In fact, the movement would have collapsed long ago but for the support it has received from outside Travancore...” Historian T.K. Ravindran observes that Periyar’s arrival gave “a new life to the movement”.

What was Periyar’s role in the satyagraha? He made a cogent and compelling case for it. He used his wit and folk logic to punch holes in the argument of the orthodox. The speeches reported by the secret police and the press make for interesting reading nearly a century later. As his campaign met with an enthusiastic response, the government imposed prohibitory orders on him. He was externed from Kottayam district and then Kollam. Unmindful, he continued his campaign. An angry administration arrested him on May 21. Periyar refused to cooperate with the court saying that the trial was no more than an eyewash and braved the magistrate to inflict any punishment. On May 22, he was awarded a month’s simple imprisonment which he spent at Arookutty jail.

On his release, Periyar went to Vaikom rather than to his home town of Erode much to the chagrin of the district magistrate who chided the police superintendent for this. As Periyar showed no sign of slackening, he was arrested 27 days later, on July 18. This time he was sentenced to four months of rigorous imprisonment and lodged in Thiruvananthapuram central jail. While fellow satyagrahis were treated as political prisoners, Periyar was denied this status. Rajaji wrote in a letter to The Hindu that Periyar was condemned to “rigorous imprisonment and irons and jail clothing and to deprive him of all society to which other satyagraha prisoners were rightly deemed entitled is totally unjustifiable”. Infuriated by this discriminatory treatment, fellow prisoner Kesava Menon wrote to the government expressing objection but to no avail. The indignities continued until all the satyagrahis were released when the minor king Chithira Tirunal ascended the throne.

Periyar continued his campaign in Vaikom apart from Nedunganda and Nagercoil. On September 10, he returned to Erode where he was again arrested — but this time by the British Indian police for a seditious speech delivered earlier. It was but a ploy to keep him away from Vaikom.

At the forefront

Periyar was in the forefront of every aspect of the struggle. As president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee he arranged for a contribution of ₹1,000. He was part of every consultative meeting, peace committee, campaign party, etc., including the eight-member deputation constituted to meet the Diwan. Every major personality who came to Vaikom met with Periyar. This included Swami Shraddhananda of the Arya Samaj. Rajaji met Periyar in prison before proceeding to Vaikom. Gandhi too consulted him during his visit. Periyar had received Gandhi at Erode (March 8, 1925) on his way to Vaikom, joining him later at Varkala on March 12. The police superintendent records that Periyar was present in the small closed door meeting of Gandhi with Sree Narayana Guru. Periyar recalled on many occasions that Gandhi had consulted him before his all-important meeting with Maharani Regent. It should be added that his wife Nagammal and his sister S.R. Kannammal were with him for much of the agitation, apart from offering satyagraha themselves.

When, following an agreement between Gandhi and the police, the prohibition order against Periyar which had been in place for over a year was withdrawn, Gandhi wrote in Young India (April 23, 1925): “The reader will be glad to learn that the Travancore Government have... withdrawn the prohibition order against Sjt. Ramaswamy Naicker...”

The satyagraha ended in partial victory in November 1925: three out of four streets were thrown open. Nevertheless, it was an important step. Final victory came 11 years later with the Travancore Temple Entry Proclamation of 1936. By that time not only had Periyar become a bitter critic of Gandhi, but even his views on satyagraha changed.

Periyar had arrived at Vaikom, on invitation, and had given a new life to a sagging movement. He was jailed twice, and was the only person to be sentenced to rigorous imprisonment. From available evidence we know that he visited Vaikom seven times. Of the 114 days that he devoted to the struggle he languished in prison for 74 days. Apart from being the only leader from outside the State to be invited to the victory celebrations, he was even asked to preside over it.

No wonder, Thiru.Vi. Kalyanasundara Mudaliar, the great journalist and labour leader, called him the Vaikom Veerar, the hero of Vaikom, even at the time of the struggle.

This essay draws from the author’s full-length Tamil book Vaikom Porattam (Kalachuvadu Pathippagam). Translated by A.R. Venkatachalapathy

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https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/periyar-the-hero-of-vaikom/article30383014.ece

Sculpting the Iconoclast

பேராசிரியர் ஏ.ஆர்.வெங்கடாசலபதி

The Hindu (15.9.2019)

சிற்பி தனபால்

- viduthalai daily, 16.9.19

75 years of carrying the legacy of Periyar

Dennis S. Jesudasan

CHENNAI, AUGUST 26, 2019 01:02 IST

UPDATED: AUGUST 26, 2019 01:02 IST

DK remains relevant in the Dravidian firmament

The Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), founded by Periyar E.V. Ramasamy in 1944, turns 75 on August 27. The social movement, which suffered a split in September 1949, with Periyar’s protégé C.N. Annadurai launching the DMK, remains relevant in the Dravidian firmament, decades after its founder’s death in 1973.

“Even the organisations founded by other reformists like Narayana Guru in Kerala or Jyotirao Phule in Maharashtra or B.R. Ambedkar did not enjoy influence of the kind wielded by the DK, which is carrying forward the legacy of Periyar. What Periyar visualised during his lifetime were ideas that were implemented by many governments,” contended DK vice-president Kali Poongundran. It was after Periyar dropped his caste surname ‘Naicker’ in 1929 that the culture of dropping caste surnames spread among the people of Tamil Nadu, he said.

From fighting the taboo against widowhood, encouraging their remarriage and continuing the struggle against casteism to asserting the idea of social justice, the DK is carrying forward what Periyar stood for, said DK propaganda secretary A. Arulmozhi.

But what about the criticism that Dalits were left out of the movement? “We did take them along. There are ulterior motives behind those levelling this criticism against the DK,” she said.

RSS ideologue and Thuglak Editor S. Gurumurthy, however, disagreed. “My study is that any movement born in anger is contextual. It will lose its value once its leadership sees and acquires power and becomes soft. Then, the movement dissipates and becomes irrelevant. This rule is valid for communism and the DK.” The DK movement, according to him, failed because though its anger was against Brahmins, it wrongly targeted Gods. “It was defeated by Gods. But its effect is that it made the Brahmins less dependent on the State and other castes for their survival,” he argued. “Its result is a huge minus and it has stunted T.N. — the intellectual leader of India and the world — by dividing and engaging intellectuals in short-term issues,” he said.

Major reference point

Political commentator P. Ramajayam had a different take. In Tamil Nadu politics, he said, the DK remains the major reference point where all Dravidian and Communist parties meet, since both strongly subscribe to the ideas of Periyar. “DK president K. Veeramani may not get many votes, but his presence on the political stage means a lot to the political parties and the leaders present on that stage,” he said.

Unlike the RSS, which had only the BJP, the DK would have several parties wanting to be seen aligning with it, he said. But the organisation also had its limitations as “Periyar has not only grown beyond the DK and beyond borders but has also often been a reference point among the intellectual community across the world on annihilation of caste,” he added. Many youth were more interested in his principles than the activities of the organisation he founded, he said.

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Who are the Dravidians?

Thus Spake Ambedkar

Who are the Dravidians? Are they different from the Nagas? Or are they two different names for a people of the same race? The popular view is that the Dravidians and Nagas are names of two different races.  This statement is bound to shock many people.  Nonetheless, it is a fact that the term Dravidians and Nagas are merely two different names for the same people.

It is not to be denied that very few will be prepared to admit the proposition that the Dravidians and Nagas are merely two different names for the same people and fewer that the Dravidians as Nagas occupied not merely South India but that they occupied the whole of India – South as well as North. Nonetheless, these are historical truths.

Let us see what the authorities have to say on the subject.  This is what Mr. Dikshitiar, a well-known South Indian scholar, has to say on the subject in his paper on South India in the Ramayana:

“The Nagas, another tribe-semi-divine in character, with their totems as serpent, spread throughout India, from Taksasila in the North-West to Assam to the North-East and to Ceylon and South India in the South.  At one time they must have been powerful.  Contemporaneous with the Yakwas or perhaps subsequent to their fall as a political entity, the Nagas rose to prominence in South India.  Not only parts of Ceylon but ancient Malabar were the territories occupied by the ancient Nagas …….. In the Tamil classics of the early centuries after Christ, we hear frequent references to Naganadu ………. Remnants of Naga worship are still lingering in Malabar, and the temple in Nagercoil in South Travancore is dedicated to Naga worship even today.  All that can be said about them is that they were a sea-faring tribe.  Their womenfolk were renowned for their beauty.  Apparently the Nagas had become merged with the Cheras who rose to power and prominence at the commencement of the Christian Era.”

Further light is thrown on the subject by C.F. Oldham who has made a deep study of it.  According to Mr. Oldham:

“The Dravidian people have been divided, from ancient times, into Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas, Chera, or Sera (in old Tamil Sarai) is the Dravidian equivalent for Naga: Cheramandala, Nagadwipa, or the Naga country. This seems to point distinctly to the Asura origin of the Dravidians of the South.  But in addition to this there still exists, widely spread over the Ganges Valley, a people who call themselves Cherus or Scoris, and who claim descent from the serpent gods.  The Cherus are of very ancient race; they are believed to have once held a great portion of the valley of the Ganges, which, as we have already seen, was occupied in very early times by Naga tribes.  The Cherus appear to have been gradually ousted from their lands, during the troublous times of the Mohammedan invasions, and they are now poor and almost landless.  There can be little doubt that these people are kinsmen of the Dravidian Cheras.

The Cherus have several peculiar customs and amongst them one which seems to connect them with the Lichhavis, as well as with the Newars of Nepal.  This is the election of a raja for every five or six houses, and his investiture, in due form, with the tilak or royal frontal mark.  Both Lichavis and Newars had many customs in common with the Dravidians of the South.  Each venerated the serpent, Karkotaka Naga being to Nepal what Nila Naga was to Kashmir.  A Naga, too, was the tutelary deity of Vaisali, the Lichavi capital.  The marital relations of Newars and Lichavis closely resembled those of the Tamil people, and go far to show a common origin.

Property amongst the Newars descended in the female line, as it once did amongst the Arattas, Bahikas or Takhas of the Punjab, whose sisters’ sons, and not their own, were their heirs.  This is still a Dravidian custom.  In short, a recent Dravidian writer, Mr. Balakrishna Nair, says that his people ‘appear to be, in nearly every particular, the kinsfolk of the Newars.’

Besides all this, however, there are other links connecting the Naga people of the South with those of the north of India.  In an inscription discovered by Colonel Tod at Kanswah near the river Chambal, a Raja, called Salindra, ‘of the race of Sarya, a tribe renowned amongst the tribes of the mighty’ is said to be ruler of Takhya.

This was evidently the Takhya or Takha kingdom of the Punjab, which was visited by Hiou-en-Tsiang, and which has been already referred to.  It seems, therefore, that the Naga people of Takhya were known also by the name of Sarya.

Again, in the outer Himalaya, between the Sutlej and Beas Valleys, is a tract of country called Sara, or Scoraj.  In this district the Naga demigods are the chief deities worshipped.

There is another Seoraj in the Upper Chinab Valley, and this too is occupied by a Naga worshiping people.

The name Saraj, or Seoraj, appears to be the same as the Sarya of Colonel Tod’s inscription and as Seori, which is the alternative name of the Cherus of the Ganges Valley.  It also seems to be identical with Sarai, which we have already seen, is the old Tamil name for the Chera or Naga. Apparently, therefore, the Saryas or Takhya, the Saraj people of the Sutlej Valley, the Seoris or Cherus of the valley of the Ganges, and the Cheras, Seras, or Keralas of Southern India, are but different branches of the same Naga-worshipping people.

It may be noted, too, that in some of the Himalayan dialects, Kira or Kiri means a serpent.  This name, from which was perhaps derived the term Kirate so often applied to the people of the Himalayas, is found in the Rajastarangini, where it is applied to a people in or near Kashmir.  The Kiras are mentioned by Varaha Mihira, and in a copper plate published by Prof. Kielhorn.

An inscription at the Baijnath temple in the Kangra valley gives Kirangrama as the then name of the place.  This, in the local dialect, would mean the village of serpents.  The Naga is still a popular deity at Baijnath, and throughout the neighbouring country.  The term Kira is thus an equivalent for Naga, and it can scarcely be doubted that the serpent-worshipping Kiras of the Himalayas were closely related to the Dravidian Keras, Cheras or Keralas of the South.

Similarity of name is not always to be trusted, but here we have something more.  These people, whose designation is thus apparently the same, are all of Solar race; they all venerate the hooded serpent; and they all worship, as ancestors, the Naga demi-gods.

From the foregoing it would seem tolerably certain that the Dravidians of Southern India were of the same stock as the Nagas or Asuras of the North.”

It is thus clear that the Nagas and Dravidians are one and the same people.  Even with this much of proof, people may not be found ready to accept the thesis.  The chief difficulty in the way of accepting it lies in the designation of the people of South India by the name Dravidian.  It is natural for them to ask why the term Dravidian has come to be restricted to the people of South India if they are really Nagas.  Critics are bound to ask: If the Dravidians and the Nagas are the same people, why is the name Nagas not used to designate people of South India also.  This is no doubt a puzzle.  But it is a puzzle which is not beyond solution.  It can be solved if certain facts are borne in mind.

The second thing to be borne in mind is that the word ‘Dravida’ is not an original word.  It is the Sanskritised from of the word, ‘Tamil’

The original word ‘Tamil’ when imported into Sanskrit became Damita and later on Damilla became Dravida.  The word Dravida is the name of the language of the people and does not denote the race of the people.  The third thing to remember is that Tamil or Dravida was not merely the language of South India but before the Aryans came it was the language of the whole of India, and was spoken from Kashmere to Cape Camorin.  In fact, it was the language of the Nagas throughout India.  The next thing to note is the contact between the Aryan and the Nagas and the effect it produced on the Nagas and their language.  Strange as it may appear the effect of this contact on the Nagas of North India was quite different from the effect it produced on the Nagas of South India.  The Nagas in North India gave up Tamil which was their mother tongue and adopted Sanskrit in its place.  The Nagas in South India retained Tamil as their mother tongue and did not adopt Sanskrit the language of the Aryans.  If this difference is borne in mind it will help to explain why the name Dravida came to be applied only for the people of South India.  The necessity for the application of the name Dravida to the Nagas of Northern India had ceased because they had ceased to speak the Dravida language.  But so far as the Nagas of South India are concerned not only the propriety of calling them Dravida had remained in view of their adherence to the Dravida language but the necessity of calling them Dravida had become very urgent in view of their being the only people speaking the Dravida language after the Nagas of the North had ceased to use it.  This is the real reason why the people of South India have come to be called Dravidians.

The special application of the use of the word Dravida for the people of South India must not, therefore, obscure the fact that the Nagas and Dravidas are the one and the same people.  They are only two different names for the same people.  Nagas was a racial or cultural name and Dravida was their linguistic name.

Thus the Dasas are the same as the Nagas and the Nagas are the same as the Dravidians.  In other words what we can say about the races of India is that there have been at the most only two races in the field, the Aryans and the Nagas.  Obviously the theory of Mr. Rice must fall to the ground.  For it postulates three races in action when as a matter of fact we see that there are only two.

Claiming the ‘Dravidian’ identity in West Bengal

The Dravidian identity is claimed in the south more so in Tamil Nadu.  Both the ruling party and the opposition party do have their Dravidian identity in their names.  The Dravidian ideology staked its claim among the people by the continuous propaganda made by the social revolutionary Thanthai Periyar E.V.R. Dravidian Movement is strong in Tamil Nadu.  Owing to Dravidian politics which showed its distinct character from the rest of the States in the country through the results of recently held Lok Sabha elections. ‘Long Live Periyar’ was the salutation invariably pronounced by the elected representatives from Tamil Nadu while taking oath of office at the Parliament.

Now, the Dravidian identity is claimed from other States, particularly the Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), Mr. Sukhendu Sekhar Roy of Trinamool Congress Party (TMC). While addressing at the floor of the Parliament he said that the West Bengal people are the descendants of Dravidian race viz.  Banga. To sustain the identity as a pride he has sought for the change in the name of the State from ‘West Bengal’ to ‘Bangla’. It is very apt to name the State where the people of Banga have been living. Mr. Sukhendu Sekhar Roy quoted that ‘Nagas’ were inhabiting throughout India and the language spoken by them was Tamil.  The name of the race ‘Nagas’ are nothing but ‘Dravidians’, reminding the analytical writing of Babasaheb  Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Dravidian identity is becoming the symbol of pride with historical evidences which the saffron outfits are trying to erase!

Source: Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings and Speeches, Volume – 7, published by The Education Department, Government of Maharashtra, 1990

13.7.19

Asia’s First Balloon Satellite SKI NSLV 9 Maniammaiyar sat

By | on May 3, 2019 

Cover Story

Record-breaking Mission by PMIST Women Students Exclusively

Dr. Mylswamy, former Mission Director, ISRO, along with the Women Students’ Team, Faculty – Guides and other members at the Satellite launching site

(PMIST – 21^st April 2019)

R.K.Muthuraman
Head, Department of Aerospace Engineering,
Prof. Dr. K. Selvam, PMIST

“Means of transport would mostly be in the air and at a great speed.  Wireless communicative devices pocketable in shirts (mobile phone) would be provided for all.  Radio might be in the hats of everyone. Equipments, enabling the dispatch of images through mail would be in enormous usage. Convenience in conversation could be possible, face to face through such mailing meehanism (Skype).  One will be able to contact instantly anyone anywhere. Education could be imparted easily far and wide.”

– Periyar (1938) on ‘The World to come’

Social Revolutionary Periyar E.V. Ramasamy (1879-1973), ‘The prophet of New Age’ as cited by UNESCO in 1970, was able to forecast as above, the development of science and technology during the early 19^th century.  He delivered the same in a public speech during 1938 to a vast audience; who were unable to read and write.  Periyar, always, thought in his original way and propagated the same to the society till his 95 years of social life.  It is quite interesting to learn, what has been transformed into reality today in the science age.  A record has been set in the higher educational institution established in his name by the trust formed by his successor E.V.R. Maniammaiar.

The record breaking project made exclusively by the women students of Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science and Technology (PMIST) (Deemed to be University) Vallam, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu resulted in successful launching of Asia’s first balloon satellite.  Yes, the degree students of various science and engineering disciplines of PMIST have successfully launched the satellite: SKI NSLV 9 Maniammaiyar Sat.  The women students’ team designed and developed the in-house satellite for commemorating the birth centenary year of E.V.R. Maniammaiar.

Exhilarating the motto of PMIST – Think, Innovate and Transform, a team of 15 women students launched the designed satellite with the support of a high altitude balloon filled with Helium gas.

Pioneers in the NSLV (Near Space Launch Vehicle) missions, ‘Space Kidz’ (India), Chennai conceptualized the idea, mentored and trained the team.  The preparatory schedule of the mission lasted for about two months.

The duration from launching to landing the satellite on Earth took about 4 hours.

The satellite was launched exactly by 11.42 a.m. on 21^st April 2019 from the PMIST campus.  The original schedule was to reach a height of about 70,000 feet in the sky, expand manifolds due to the prevailing atmospheric temperature.  At one point of time the balloon would burst or shrink and the launched satellite starts descending. The parachute annexed to it gets open and brings down the payload. The payload landing site will be plotted in the map and the retrieval team takes over the payload for data analysis study.

Electronic Mechanism of the Satellite:

The satellite was capable of sending live telemetry consisting of vital data and flight parameters throughout the flight.

The telemetry contains call sign, pocket number, latitude, altitude, velocity, heading, GPS time, temperature etc. All these data are subject to processing by a micro controller and transmitted using a radio.  As per the design, the data recorded from sensors are stored in an inbuilt storage fixed in the payload; however a camera affixed will capture the images and store them in on-board storage device.  The GPS receiver helps to receive data and tracking the landing point for retrieving the payload.

Space altitude naturally begins at 100 kms above Earth’s surface.  The satellite launching was aimed at only within a particular limit; this distinguishes the mission from that of launching a satellite into space by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization).

The launching event preparation held in the presence of Dr. Mylswamy Annadurai, Former Director, ISRO; who served as chief guest, along with several academicians and students. General public in large numbers witnessed this landmark launching grand event from peoples’ university.

Unique Features

‘SKI NSLV 9 Maniammaiyar Sat’ Team of Women Students of PMIST

* The Satellite went up to the height of 1,03,852 feet (32 kms) that has set the record of the FIRST in Asia.
* The launching target was planned originally to a height of 70,000 feet in the sky but it went beyond that touching almost the stratosphere near the border of space.
* The entire data recorded while ascendance and landing down were retrieved fully from the payload immediately after landing.
* 30 years back PMIST was started as the exclusive engineering college for women, first in the world which later got upgraded Deemed to be University. The satellite project was associated exclusively by the women students, who hail from rural areas and families, not of high educational background.

Launching and Landing: A ground station was established at the Institute for monitoring the four hours mission.  The satellite exceeded 1,03,852 feet (32 kms) than the planned altitude. After reaching certain height in the sky, the Helium balloon got burst or struck due to the change in the prevailing temperature at such altitude. Then the satellite started to descend with the parachute attached to it for the smooth landing.  The descending route was followed up by the team at the ground station situated at the PMIST campus. The launched satellite was expected to land around the PMIST campus around 40 kms radius. The descending site was traced by the team and they reached the point of landing.  At last the ‘SKI NSLV 9 Maniammaiyar Sat’ landed at an agricultural field called ‘Sungathidal’. The team collected the satellite and brought it back to the ground station at PMIST to retrieve the data for analysis.

The Certificate of Asia Book of Records issued immediately after the successful launching of ‘SKI NSLV 9 Maniamamaiyar Sat’

Dignitaries witnessed the launching:Such mission of launching balloon satellite by educational institutions warrants a lot of clearances from the   Government of India, Airport Authorities, and the office of District Collector etc.  At the time of launching the satellite, many bureaucrats and heads of fraternal educational institutions witnessed it along with the chief guest Dr. Mylswamy Annadurai were: Dr. Srimathikesan, chief executive officer of Space Kidz (India), Prof. Dr. A. Thiruvalluvar, Principal, Kunthavai Nachiar Government College of Arts & Science, Thanjavur, Mr. Harish, Adjucator, Asia Book Records, R. Siddharthan, Joint Director, Defence and Health, Government of India.  Besides Group Commander Pirajwal Singh, Wg. Cd. Nitin Upadhya, Wg. Cdr. Anish Nair, Air force Station, Thanjavur attended the launching event.

Record and Recognition: The Asia’s First Balloon Satellite launching by PMIST was recorded and a Certificate of Recognition was issued by Asia Book of Records whose representatives witnessed the successful launching of the satellite.

Recent Past, Present Records and the Resolve for Future:

For the current year (2019) Asia Book of Records has recognized ‘the unique concept of an all-women team to launch a balloon satellite.  During the previous year (2018) Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science and Technology (Deemed to be University) Vallam, Thanjavur was awarded ‘All India Best Private University’in India 2018 by ASSOCHAM on the World Entrepreneurs’ Day 2018 at New Delhi.

As a Vision for 2020, PMIST has announced that they will establish the ‘Centre for Excellence in ROBOTICS’ at PMIST campus. This Centre will aid in training all the school and college students, majority of them hail from rural backgrounds as first generation graduates.

Periyar’s Mission of educating and enlightening the suppressed society; who were denied such opportunities has been gaining momentum with significant velocity,  being acclaimed nationally and internationally.

PMIST – Mission Team 
Students: 
Aerospace Engineering
S. Nivetha, P. Pranavee, S. Jansi Rani,
R. Subha Laxmi Dash
Mechanical Engineering
G. Anumandhra, V. Kanagapriya,
V. Sathyasree
Electronics & Communication Engineering
S. Siva priya, S. Sushma
Computer Science Engineering
K. Abinaya, D. A. Agnes Archana,
P. S. Meenalaxmi
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
B. Jayasree, M. Sangavi,
E. Gnana Sundari
Faculty – guides
Convener: P.K Srividhya
(Dean Academics)
Co-ordinators: R. K Muthuraman,
V. Nagaraj, R. Ramani,
Dept. of Aerospace Engineering

Dravidian Manifesto

Justice Party, the pioneer of Dravidian Movement released the ‘Non-Brahmin Manifesto’ on December 20, 1916 in the Madras Presidency of the British India.  That was the organized starting point to stake claim in education and employment for the representation of the vast suppressed sections who were denied of those opportunities historically for many centuries.

As per the Montague – Chelmsford Reform measures in 1920 for the first time in the British India, elections were conducted.  Justice Party by putting the Manifesto to the public notice contested, won the elections and assumed the ruling power of the Presidency under ‘diarchy’ system.  The contents of the Manifesto were translated for implementation one by one that became the role model for the rest of the British India.  The reservation policy commenced was emulated and provisions were included on the said lines in Indian Constitution, thereby made applicable for the whole of India after independence.  The achievements in Tamil Nadu on Social Justice front are still praised and assimilated by other States.

Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), the parental organization of Dravidian Movement, founded by the social revolutionary Periyar E.V. Ramasamy (1879-1973) in its State Conference held at Thanjavur on 23^rd February 2019, released the ‘Dravidian Manifesto’.  Dr. K. Veeramani, DK President while releasing the Dravidian Manifesto reaffirmed the principles and pronounced policy measures of the arduous mission of Dravidian Movement after having journeyed for more than 100 years.

Self Respective Humanism has to be the expectation and the practice of every human. Rationality is a virtue of humanity and so it should be natural that humans extend love and fraternity beyond their family to fellow human.

‘All humans are equal by birth’ is the philosophy of the Dravidian philosophy.  It has been narrated in ‘Dravidian Manifesto’ to suit the philosophy to the current socio, political and economic environment of the country.  Periyar strived for equity in the distribution of wealth, its possession, laws, perception, consumption, participation which are the some of the key indicators of an advanced, civilized, honest and an egalitarian society.  The hurdles to attain equality have been correctly exposed as god, soul, heaven, hell, meaningless customs and traditions which had kept the vast toiling masses of the country enslaved.

Periyar Movement pointed out rationality in discharging the human responsibility and the same finds a vital place in Indian Constitution as Fundamental Duties of the Citizens.  Dravidian Manifesto reaffirms fostering rational and scientific reasoning and subjecting everything to questioning and scientific examination.  It stressed Women’s Liberation and their empowerment in par with men in all areas – education, job, politics and economic status.  It advocates for women the same rights of priesthood as applicable to men of all religions.  It ensures equality for all Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender and Queers (LGBTQ) whose identies are decided by their birth and discriminating them in any form is to be wiped out.  They are equal to others in all respects and so they have equal rights to everything.  Differently abled both in physique and cognitive sense should be ensured of equal rights.

Apart from the fundamental rights to everyone, fundamental economic needs have to be provided and it must be the solemn responsibility of the government.  To the extent of collective contribution of the country’s production, the equitable distribution has also to be ensured.

The Manifesto directs that the wide gap between the rich and the poor should not exist and so is the gap between the employer and employee; the relationship between the employer and employee should be a partnership.  It should create an egalitarian society with no bias of economic class, social class or gender.

State and religion have to be separated absolutely with no link between the government and religions.  Laws should not discriminate against atheists. It should work towards enacting laws that will guarantee both atheists and theists the same and equal rights including rights to propagate their views and ideals.

Any two persons over the age of twenty should have the right to live together or marry without the interference of others.  Decision to live together or marry should solely be left to the parties involved. Any interference to disrupt togetherness of two adult individuals should be treated as an offence.  The woman alone has the right to decide on matters related to child bearing.

Death penalty should be abolished.  There should not be any restriction on freedom of thought, expression or propaganda. Art that undermines humanism or self respect under the pretext of ‘art for the art’s sake’ cannot be accepted.  Art should be constructive and should support the message of humanism and self respect.

Overall Self Respective Humanism has to be the expectation and the practice of every human. Rationality is a virtue of humanity and so it should be natural that humans extend love and fraternity beyond their family to fellow human. Globalizing humans to exercise their rights and discharge their responsibility must be the essence of humanity to establish the egalitarian society everywhere. The narratives are not exhaustive of Dravidian Manifesto.  The manifesto does not restrict with mere declaration but policy prescription would be worked out for its implementation, a unique feature of Dravidian Movement.

1.5.19

Burning Manusmriti

By | on February 25, 2019 

Asiriyar K.Veeramani set fire to Manusmiriti Chennai , 7^th February 2019

Dravidar Kazhagam, the humanist movement founded by Periyar (1879-1973) has been striving for equality and equal opportunities to all without any discrimination and division among humans.   ‘All are meant for All’ is the basic tenet of the philosophy of Self Respect, advocated by Periyar and his movement.

‘Manusmriti’ is the religious code which sustains the legal sanctity of discriminating humans on the basis of their birth and assigning the social duties accordingly.  The violation of the prescription was liable for punishment for almost two millennia.  The major provisions of Hindu Law still have the roots in Manusmriti! Article 372 of Indian Constitution says,

Continuance in force of existing laws and their adaptation:

i) Notwithstanding the repeal by this Constitution of the enactments referred to in Article 395 but subject to the other provisions of this Constitution, all the laws in force in the territory of India immediately before the commencement of this Constitution shall continue in force there in until altered or repealed or amended by a competent Legislature or other competent authority.

Symbolic copy of Manusmriti, set fire

During the span of about 75 years after the Indian Constitution came into force, amendments and additions in the Hindu Laws have taken place to the bearest minimum.  It goes without saying almost all the existed Hindu Laws prior to Indian independence rules the roost sustaining the discrimination and degradations as per the provisions of Manusmriti.  Hence, as a symbol of protest and to draw the attention of the rulers, Dravidar Kazhagam has been setting fire to Manusmriti may times during the past (The chronology covered in the ‘box’).

At latest on February 7, 2019, the Black Shirt cadres of Dravidar Kazhagam set fire to Manusmriti (the account of discriminatory provisions of Manusmriti as shown in the ‘box’) in all the district head quarters of Tamil Nadu.

Asiriyar Dr. K.Veeramani, President, Dravidar Kazhagam  who   set fire to Manusmriti at Chennai was arrested along with multitude of Black Shirt cadres throughout Tamil Nadu. DK is positive, hopeful and constructive in erasing the disgrace inflicted on the major toiling masses including all the women by the Manusmriti.

Chronology of periyar Movement Setting Fire to Manu dharma

—     Periyar thundered in the public meeting following the 1922 Congress Conference, Tirupur, that Ramayana and Manusmriti, which safeguard caste discrimination must be burnt.

—     In the 1901 census, there was a separate division as Sudras.  In the first Conference of the Non Brahmin Youth convened in Chennai in 1927 J.S. Kannappar proposed a resolution demanding the removal of the term Sudra from the government records.

—     Manudharma sastra was set to flames in the Self Respect Conference convened at Gudiattam, North Arcot District on 4 December 1927.

—     Manudharma was set to flames in the city of Mahad, Maharashtra State on 25 December 1927 under the president ship of Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar.

—     On 17 May 1981, Manudharma we set to flames all over the State by Dravidar Kazhagam volunteers.  On 10 March 2017 Manudharma burning agitation was conducted all over the state exclusively by Dravidar Kazhagam Women’s Wing.

—             An agitation of setting flames to Manudharma was conducted on 7 February 2019, to do away with the disgrace of sudrahood and subjugation of women, in which thousands of men and women participated throughout the state and were arrested.

RESOLUTIONS PASSED IN THE STATE LEVEL CONFERENCE OF DRAVIDAR KAZHAGAM

RESOLUTIONS PASSED IN THE STATE LEVEL CONFERENCE OF DRAVIDAR KAZHAGAM held Thanjavur on the 23rd February, 2019

Entrance ambience of the Conference Venue

LOK SABHA POLLS AND
DUTIES OF VOTERS

This Conference would like to call on that the NDA Government under the leadership of Narendra Modi should be defeated for the following reasons:

(a) For the activities against the principles of Social Justice and Secularism enshrined in the Constitution of India,

*   Particularly removal of the word ‘secularism’ in the advertisement released by the Government on the eve of the Republic Day celebrations,

*    Provision of 10 per cent reservation to the people belonging to economically weaker sections among forward castes which do not find a place in the Directive Principles of the Constitution,

*   Acting, propagating and prescribing of syllabus of educational institutions with a religious fanatic mentality and against the scientific spirit,

*    In the name of cow protection, an ideology of Hindutva, prevention of eating beef by people, making call to form a Hindu Rashtra and a Ram Rajya,

*   Even Central Ministers openly making propaganda of these activities, and,

*    Instigation of violence and creating riots against the people belonging to the minority communities which are against the secular principles of the Constitution.

(b)  Conduct of ‘NEET’ examination, ‘NET’ examination and Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) which sound a death knell to the principle of Social Justice,

*    Saffronisation of education following the principle of professional education system of Varnasrama Dharma in the name of National Education Policy, Gurukul System of Education, and imposition of Sanskrit and Hindi,

*    Imposing the ideology of Hindutva of one-nation, one language and one culture theory of the R.S.S.,

(c) Perpetuation of violence against the people belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, refusing to protect  victimised people under  the Act to Prevent Atrocities to the SCs and the STs and  perpetuation of sexual violence against women,

(d) Failure to fulfil the electoral promise made to create employment opportunities for 2 crores of people every year,

(e) Great erosion in the economic development of the country, decline  in the value of rupee, demonetisation of  higher value currencies,  introduction of GST system, and the steep increase in the cost of living and the closure of  small scale and tiny sectors due to the introduction of  these measures, increase in the number of unemployed people and  adoption of policies which favour Multi National Corporations (MNCs) and Hindu religious institutions and writing off of bad debts to the tune of 2.4 lakh crores granted to corporates. Is it not an irony to call ‘demonetisation’ measure as bringing out black money which helped only in money laundering?

10 years after the earlier economic depression, India is facing a severe economic crisis. In 2008, India had to face economic slowdown due to the international economic depression. But India could overcome this crisis with the self-sufficiency created in agriculture and manufacturing sector.

But now when the economic condition of the other countries of the world has improved a lot, the economy of our country is toddling and our financial problems and burdens seem to be unredeemable.

The growth of GDP for the year 2014-15 was 8.01 per cent when Narendra Modi took charge of the Prime Ministership from Dr. Manmohan Singh and the growth has slowed down in the subsequent years of Modi rule and stands at 7.2 per cent in the year 2018. This slow down is expected to continue in this 2019 year also.

(f) Due to the neglect of the problems of the farmers, suicides of farmers have increased and similarly the rights of the workers were also stripped.

(g) Undertaking anti-democratic activities against the democratically elected State governments by appointing people from R.S.S. as Governors of the States where the BJP is not in power.

(h) Autocratic, fascist and excessive interventions of the Central Government in the independent functioning  of the Constitutional  institutions like Election Commission, Reserve Bank of India, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Central Information Commission, Central Auditor General’s office, Economic Enforcement Wing etc.

(i) Totally disregarding the wishes of the public and without respecting their sentiments, forcing industrial projects like Methane, Hydrocarbon, Sterlite and Neutrino to aid multi-national companies in amassing wealth,  which will harm the environment and the livelihood of the people; taking a one sided stand in the problem of the distribution of river water among the states with an eye on the electoral benefits; people forced to agitate to secure their due legal rights repressed thro’ State government law enforcing agencies; branding them as terrorists and anti-nationals and imprisoning them under the National Security Act.

A Prime Minister who is not prepared to meet even Chief Ministers of the non-BJP ruled States is approaching each and every issue or problem with partisan view. It is obvious that the BJP Government at the Centre is out and out a fascist government. This Conference would like to request the voters to be cautious and defeat such fascist BJP Government and its allies by casting their votes against them in the coming 2019 Election to Lok Sabha.

This Conference would like to request all voters including the youth, students, and women to work vigorously in the election field to defeat this fascist regime of the BJP

The AIADMK Government of Tamil Nadu, which has not shown even a little concern and taken any action to get assent of the President of India for the two Bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly requesting to abolish the system of conducting NEET examinations, acting as a slave to the BJP Central Government abiding by their decisions has also to be removed from power.

This conference unanimously requests the voters to support the United Progressive Alliance by casting their votes for it and defeat BJP and its alliance in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

ERADICATION OF CASTE AND UNTOUCHABILITY

Abolition of untouchability has been enshrined in Article 17 of the Constitution of India. As the root cause for untouchability is the caste system, fighting against untouchability, without fighting against caste system, is like fighting with the shadow. ‘Untouchability is abolished’ as envisaged in Article 17 of the Constitution of India should be replaced with the words ‘Caste is abolished’. This Conference emphatically insists the Government of India to bring a Constitutional Amendment to this effect.

This Conference again reiterates the resolution passed for removing the social degradation of Tamils, in the Conference held under the Presidentship of Thanthai Periyar in Periyar Thidal, Chennai on 8 and 9 December, 1973.

RESERVATION TO THE CHILDREN BORN OF INTER CASTE MARRIAGE IS A MUST

Arriving leader Asiriyar Dr. K.Veeramani, greeted by the cadres.

*   This Conference points out to the State and Central Governments that just like using a small amount of poison with the medicines to save the lives of patients, the criterion of caste should be used to secure reservations in education, employment and promotion and it should not be used for any other purpose or identification.

*  This Conference enjoins that while issuing Community Certificates, mention has to be made only whether the individual belongs to Backward Class or the Scheduled Caste or the Scheduled Tribe and no specific mention of their caste in the Certificate is needed.

*   This Conference entreats that the children born of inter caste marriages should be declared as casteless and reservation in education and employment should be provided to them. When the quantum of reservation under this mode goes on increasing, the quantum of reservation now being given on the basis of their caste will gradually decrease. This Conference emphatically requests the Central Government to bring suitable Constitutional Amendment in this respect.

*   Separate habitations or colonies exclusively for the people of the Scheduled Castes should not be constructed, as such habitations will segregate them from other people of the society. This Conference requests the Central and State Governments to create an environment in which people of all castes are living together without any caste difference.

*   A Government Order passed in the year 1978 stipulates that no roads, streets or towns or villages should be named after a particular caste. This Conference insists the Tamil Nadu Government to implement this order in full.

*   When the G.O. No. 28 of Urban Development Department, Government of Tamil Nadu specifically stipulates that no religious worship symbols must find place in Periyar Memorial Samathuvapurams, in places like Senbagaraman Pudur in Kanyakumari District, temples has been constructed. Even after this matter has been taken to the notice of the Collector of the District and the Chief Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu, no action has been taken so far. This is highly objectionable. It is resolved in the Conference to seek judicial remedy for this problem.

*   This Conference insists that just like creation of special police cells to detect the cases relating to the theft of idols from temples, special police cells have to be created to prevent religious or caste conflicts and riots arising among people.

*    This Conference welcomes the system of a male and a female who have attained proper age getting married. This Conference insists both genders of youth to treat the word ‘Arrogant Killing’ as brutal and barbarian.

*    This Conference requests the youth to give priority to the inter caste marriages, widow marriages and marriage of divorcees.

*   This Conference resolves to request the progressive minded people to come forward to create an infrastructure to provide organisational level protection to people getting married through inter caste marriages.

*   Two tumblers system in tea stalls, separate burial or cremation grounds and obstacles in using the roads leading to them by people of all castes and manual removal of night soil continuing even after 72 years of Independence is a matter of shame.

*    Having in mind the tenet of Thanthai Periyar that freedom is intended only for men and women and not for the soil, the system of giving inferior status to the people, denying them equality, human rights and freedom must be eradicated totally.  This Conference emphatically insists that speedy steps should be taken to pass suitable legislations required and requests the Central and State Governments to give priority to this matter.

*    This Conference insists the Central and State Governments to create and prescribe text books and syllabus to inculcate the thinking about the abolition of caste system and untouchability, creating a sense of equality and inculcating the spirit of humanism in the minds of children even from their younger age.

*   The practice of wearing wrist threads of different colour to identify the caste of the people is a demeaning act and should be stopped forthwith. This Conference requests the State Government, particularly the education department, to take suitable action against the persons responsible for this practice.

TRAINED PERSONS OF ALL CASTES MUST BE APPOINTED AS ‘ARCHAKAS’ IN TEMPLES

Consequent to the last agitation Thanthai Periyar announced in his lifetime insisting the rights of people of all castes to serve as priests in Hindu temples, legislation was brought in the rule of the DMK under the leadership of Manamigu Kalaignar M.Karunanidhi and the Supreme Court of India also has upheld the constitutional validity of this Act. The left front Communist government of Kerala has appointed ‘Archakas’ belonging to all castes in more than 60 temples. Thiru. Marisamy, belonging to the Backward Class was appointed as ‘Archaka’ in the temple of Ayyappa in Thallakulam of Madurai in Tamil Nadu.

This Conference strongly insists the Government of Tamil Nadu to immediately appoint the 200 ‘Archakas’, already trained and belonging to various castes, awaiting appointment. This Conference also insists the Tamil Nadu Government to ensure continuous functioning of the training centers.

THE NEED FOR ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT TO BE GIVEN FOR THE GROWTH AND ACTIVITIES OF THE TAMIL CLASSICAL LANGUAGE

To proclaim to world over the antiquity of Tamil language and the trove of literature available in our language and to create awareness regarding the greatness of the Tamil language to the people whose mother tongue is Tamil, to enable the Tamil language develop itself according to the need and change of times, the status of the ‘classical language’ was awarded to Tamil, by the UPA government at the Centre, due to the incessant efforts of Manamigu Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi, Classical Tamil Language Research Centre was established in Tharamani of Chennai. A scheme of preliminary planning was chalked out with a farsighted purpose to publish ancient literatures, to translate them in other languages and to draw a research scheme to undertake research about the history of Tamil Grammar, ancientness of the language and the customs and practices Tamil people were following.

It gives great pain and concern that not even a single project has been undertaken in this direction for the past 11 years. No one was appointed as Permanent Director for this Institute from the day of its inception. Even persons appointed on temporary basis are Professors of Engineering Faculty, which is in no way connected with the Classical Tamil Language. This shows the indifferent attitude of the Central Government towards Classical Tamil Language.

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is the head of this Classical Tamil Research Institute. Whether the Chief Minister knows the existence of such an Institute itself is under question mark.

On the other side, the Central Government is giving all sorts of encouragement and support for the imposition and development of Sanskrit and Hindi and huge amounts of grants were allotted for them.

This Conference enjoins the  Government of Tamil Nadu to  wake up at least at this stage and insist the Government of India to undertake activities to fulfil the purpose for which this institution was  created and for its development.

Instead of acting with a step-motherly attitude, not understanding the historical fact that India is a multi-linguistic and multi racial sub-continent, this Conference would like to emphatically insist the Government of India to show due respect and importance to the ancient Tamil language and act accordingly.

ENSURING THE RIGHTFUL LIFE OF EELAM TAMILS

Women cadres marching in the procession holding burning urns.

As a result of the horrendous war against them in 2009, the lives of the Eelam Tamils have been totally devastated. Even 10 years after the war, there has been no sign of development in the lives of the Eelam Tamils. Nor have their rights been restored. In spite of the UN order for an enquiry on the war criminals responsible for the genocide, no action has been taken on it. It is not only shocking, but has led to the loss of faith in the UN. At this stage, the coming together of Mahinda Rajabaksa and   Maithripala Sirisena has created a scare among the Eelam Tamils and the human right activists.

The Government of India conducts itself in a manner as if the problem is no concern of theirs. Tamils all over the world are shocked whether nothing better will happen to them. This Conference calls upon all the Tamils to raise their voice aloud, transcending boundaries of parties and territories, and to bring pressure on the government concerned to protect their rights.

TAMIL NADU FISHERMEN FACING REGULAR TORTURE NEED A PERMANENT SOLUTION

Though the BJP loudly proclaimed that a permanent solution to the Tamil Nadu fishermen’s problem would be found, once they assumed power, they remain unconcerned about the problem. Brutalities like fishermen are being taken to custody and their boats and nets being destroyed continue. This Conference holds that the only solution is change of government. It requests the fishermen brothers of Tamil Nadu to think about it and take a sound decision in this direction.

RELEASE OF LIFE TIME CONVICTS

Black Shirt cadres march, lifting the party flags.

Though the Supreme Court of India has twice delivered judgments that the seven members Messers Perarivalan, Murugan, Santhan, Ravichandran, Robert Pyus, Jeyakumar and Nalini, who were convicted in a murder case,  languishing for more than 27 years in prison should be released,  and though the Tamil Nadu Government have accepted the verdict and recommended the early release of these convicts, the matter is being delayed by the Governor of Tamil Nadu and the Central Government without taking any decision. This Conference strongly condemns the Governor of Tamil Nadu and the Central Government for this. If this issue is delayed any further, it would amount to the non-compliance of the directions of the Supreme Court, neglecting the rights of the State Government and total negligence of humanity. This Conference prevails upon the concerned authorities to give up such inhuman approach.

9 (A). MARRIAGE AGE FOR WOMEN

This Conference would like to emphasise the need for conceding the right to women themselves to fix the age, in any case after 18, for their marriage on the basis of their education and employment.

9 (B). WOMEN AND WORSHIP

This Conference would like to emphasise that equal rights should be given to women to worship in temples and  right to become ‘Archakas’ (priests) in all religious places of worship like that of the rights enjoyed by men.

9 (C) . SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN – SELF PROTECTION

This Conference insists the Central and State Governments to give proper physical training and mental training in the educational institutions to women to safeguard and to protect themselves from sexual assaults of men and if necessary even to initiate attack, and they should also be taught to use guns and gun permits should be given to them on priority basis.

This Conference insists that steps should be taken to provide sex education to both boys and girls at the proper age.

ARCHEOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

The findings of the archeological excavations undertaken in Adichanallur during the British regime in 1876 have not been published so far. Similarly the excavations undertaken in Keezhadi near Sivaganga have been stopped in the middle without proceeding further. This Conference would like to declare emphatically that the mischief of the Brahminical point of view is the sole reason for the hurdles, as they want to hide the findings of this survey and as they are likely to reveal the ancient culture, high standard of living and other similar superior aspects of the Dravidian people who lived in ancient times. This Conference emphatically insists that the report of the excavation of Adichanallur should be published immediately without any further delay and the excavation works at Keezhadi should be continued. The State Government of Tamil Nadu should give pressure to the Central Government to take immediate action in this regard.  The description of the national leaders of the RSS that the civilisation which prevailed in Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa is Hindu civilisation, is a gross misrepresentation of facts.

OPPOSITION FOR IMPOSING
HINDI – SANSKRIT

BJP Government is imposing Hindi – Sanskrit in all Departments in a preplanned manner. In respect of Tamil Nadu, it is a burning issue of language imposition of Hindi and Sanskrit. This conference warns that this is a dangerous step and calls for its total discontinuance.

ALL THE REGIONAL LANGUAGES TO BE MADE CENTRAL OFFICIAL LANGUAGES

This conference beseeches the Central Government that all the languages in the VIII Schedule of the Constitution of India may be made the official languages of India.

This conference enjoins that Tamil should be made the language of the High Court of Madras.

CHANGE OF NAMES FROM SANSKRIT TO TAMIL

The existing names of villages, towns, streets and roads in Uttar Pradesh are being replaced by the BJP State Government with Hindutva and Saffronised names. This Conference requests the Government of Tamil Nadu to replace the names of places in Sanskrit with the Tamil names, which were once changed from Tamil to Sanskrit.

This Conference requests the people of Tamil Nadu that only Tamil names should be given to the children born to people whose mother tongue is Tamil.

CAUVERY WATER – FORSAKEN TAMIL NADU AND SOLUTIONS THREIN

Cadres of Periyar Social Protection Wing in disciplined march.

Speaking about the unity and Indian Nationalism on one hand, the tendency of undermining the rights of a State by another State is increasing day by day.

The water from the river Cauvery is the life line for the agricultural sector of Tamil Nadu and to meet the drinking water supply of people of the State. With very great concern and anguish this Conference would like to point out that whichever party comes to power in Karnataka State, the tendency of depriving of water to Tamil Nadu has become a continuous story. Even the decisions of the Cauvery Tribunal and the Supreme Court were not complied with by the Government of Karnataka on so many occasions. This shows that the Government of Karnataka is not prepared to abide by any legal decisions.

Even after the judgment of the Supreme Court that Karnataka or Tamil Nadu should not construct any new dams on the river Cauvery without the permission of the Court; all the decisions in the matter of distribution of Cauvery water among the States will be taken only by the Tribunal; and even the Central Government is not empowered to interfere in this matter; the Government of Karnataka has prepared a plan to construct a dam in Mekedatu and the Government of India has given the technical and cost approval for this project. The Supreme Court’s judgment in favour of activities of the Government of Karnataka is shocking.

This Conference expresses the great agony prevailing in the minds of the people of Tamil Nadu for being deprived of a reasonable and justifiable support from all corners including the Government of India and the Supreme Court.

This Conference unanimously requests all the political parties, other organisations and people cutting across their party leanings to unite and stand as a single force to defeat the design of the Karnataka Government to deprive the share of water of Cauvery River for which it is legally entitled.

15 (A). THE INCREASE OF THE NORTH INDIAN POPULATION IN TAMIL NADU AND OTHER SOUTHERN STATES AND ITS RESULTS

A countrywide survey undertaken in 2011 reveals shocking facts. The number of North Indians in Southern States in 2001 was 58.2 lakhs. In 2011 it has increased to 77.5 lakhs. In the last 10 years the number of Northerners in Southern states has increased by 20 lakhs. The number of Tamils in the northern states, which was 8.2 lakhs has come down to 7.2 lakhs in 2011.

Though the reason has been said to be the readiness of the north Indian to do any type of job at a low wages, their migration in large numbers affects the employment opportunities of the local people.

This conference requests the Government of Tamil Nadu to pass an Act reserving 80 percent of employment opportunities to the local people as in the States of Maharashtra and Haryana.

It becomes necessary to take into account the fact that a large number of north Indians have a part in the acts of murder and robbery which are on the increase in Tamil Nadu. When the north Indians registers themselves as voters in large number in Tamil Nadu, it has a tendency to affect the basic culture, way of life, political and social conditions of the State. This Conference enjoins the Government of Tamil Nadu to take all these facts into consideration and pass an Act to control the entry of north Indians in Tamil Nadu.

15(B). ENCROACHMENT IN BUSINESS – GRABBING OF EMPLOYMENT BY NORTH INDIANS

Business establishments and industries are ever increasing all over Tamil Nadu, starting from the capital of Tamil Nadu to all villages, North Indians totally controlling it. Previously in Chennai – Sowcarpet alone was under their control, now it spreads all over Tamil Nadu in toto.

Going beyond settling down and trade, there is the inherent danger of this causing the cultural invasion and political interference. Under the cloak of Indian Nationalism, the identity and culture of the States are trampled upon. The conference stresses the urgency in finding a solution for this factor.

GIVE UP ANTI-PEOPLE ACTIVITIES

Caravan, carrying the portraits of the leaders holding the flexi banners, narrating the social changes brought by DK.

This Conference insists the Central Government to give up all the anti-people activities such as the starting of the Sterlite factory in Tuticorin, Neutrino Project, and Methane Gas Extraction Project which earned the wrath of the public. The State Government is also requested to respect the sentiments of people and act accordingly.

BAN CONTRACT LABOUR

Contract labour is a mode of exploitation of labourers. The norm of regularising a person who has put in 240 days of work is overlooked and workers remain contract labourers even after putting in 20 years of work particularly in BHEL, Thiruverumbur.

Workers including graduates having worked for more than 20 years are made to continue as contract workers. When courts decree that they must be made permanent, the management appeals against the decree at the expense of the government revealing the anti-labour mentality of the organisation. This Conference calls upon the Central Government to bring about a constitutional amendment for complete abolition of the mode of contract labour.

REMOVE PAVEMENT TEMPLES

The Supreme Court and High Courts have passed judgments in unambiguous terms that pavement temples must be removed. When it is not complied with the Supreme Court has summoned the Chief Secretary to appear in person. It is a matter to be condemned that the governments concerned show no concern on this matter.

Under the circumstances this conference requests that the Courts concerned to suo motu introduce contempt of court proceedings. In a secular state, there should not be the symbols of any religious worship in any government institution or office. This Conference requests the State Governments to strictly enforce the rules concerned.

IMPLEMENTATION OF TOTAL PROHIBITION

Liquor drinking will degenerate the individual, family and the society. This Conference therefore insists the Central and State Governments to implement total prohibition in the country.

EDUCATION TO BE RESTORED TO STATE LIST

There was a purpose why the Constitution had left subjects such as education and health – the pillars of human development – with the State government. And that is precisely why every Indian State has its own “State Board” for school education and devises appropriate syllabi. Education cannot be taken out of the linguistic, socio-cultural and autonomous context of Indian states. In fact, the Kothari Commission that was commissioned in the 1960s to advise on education in the country, wanted education to remain with the State despite its recommendation for a nationwide standardisation.

But during Emergency, ‘Education’ was shifted to the Concurrent List. A subject in the Concurrent List makes both the Centre and the State equal partners, but given the Centre’s Constitutional upper hand, it never works that way. NEET is a classic example.

The only way to escape this absolutist injustice is to bring education back to the State List and this Conference requests the Central Government to bring in legislation to bring back the ‘Education’ to the State List in the Constitution.

LET US CELEBRATE ANNAI MANIAMMAIAR BIRTH CENTENARY IN A GRAND MANNER

Leaders witnessing the cultural programmes

Annai Maniammaiar who was a pillar of support to Thanthai Periyar and his ideology was the only woman in the history of the world to lead an atheist movement and safeguard the movement, the ideology and its institutions.

It is resolved that her birth centenary celebrations will start at Vellore on 10 March 2019 and will continue in all districts in a grand manner for a year, and conclude on 10 March 2020.

HRCE – HINDU RELIGIOUS CHARITY ENDOWMENT` BOARD PROTECTION

HRCE was formed during 1926 by the Justice Party to give protection for the Temple properties. It should not become a den of looters. This endowment law was expanded under the chairmanship of Retired Judge B.Venkataramana Naidu along with other six members. It was also justified by Sir C.P.Ramaswamy Iyer when the report was also ratified (1960-1962).

This conference appeals to the Tamil Nadu Government not to wind up the HRCE on the basis of false information by media etc.

RELEASE OF DALIT SCHOLAR
ANAND TELTUMBDE REQUESTED

Civil rights activist and Dalit scholar Anand Teltumbde was arrested on February 2, 2019 linking him to January 2018’s Bhima Koregaon violence

Ever since the present Central Government took over the reigns of power, it is taking increasingly harsh measures to suppress dissenting voices.

More than 600 international scholars, including professors from universities such as Harvard, Columbia, Yale and Oxford, have called on the Indian government to “withdraw all charges against him and to uphold democracy.”

This Conference requests the Government to release Prof. Anand Teltumbde in line with the call.

GAJA CYCLONE DISASTER CONDEMNING THE INDIFFERENT ATTITUDE OF THE CENTRE

This Conference expresses its condolence for those who lost their lives affected by the massive Gaja cyclone. Also, it admonishes the Central Government which has not extended any financial assistance to the disaster affected people.

This Conference condemns the Government of

Tamil Nadu which has failed to get the necessary assistance from the Central Government.

This Conference insists upon the BJP Government at the Centre to grant, without further delay, the financial assistance demanded by the Government of Tamil Nadu.

RESOLUTION OF FINAL CHALLENGE

We, the members of the Dravidar Kazhagam assembled in this conference, hereby swear ourselves to create a society as desired by Thanthai Periyar

*   A society where there is no discrimination among people as per Varna Dharma, Caste System or Class division

*   A society having no blind beliefs

*   A society giving equal status to both male and female

*    A society having rational outlook, sense of equality and Socialism

*   A society having self-respect and dignity

* Without any rest, without making any type of compromise, without any oscillation mind working tirelessly through propaganda and agitations under the Honourable leadership of  Tamilar Thalaivar, Manamigu Asiriyar, K.Veeramani, drawing a plan to work towards success and take it to the men and women at the tail end, especially to the youth of both the genders – taking philosophy of Thanthai Periyar to the nook and corner of the world to bloom as a flower and  to undertake to prove that the future belongs to the ideology of Thanthai Periyar.

Long Live the name and fame of
Thanthai Periyar!

Let the sense of Rationalism grow!!

29.3.2019